Multi-functional precious stone testing apparatus and method thereof

ABSTRACT

A multi-functional precious stone testing apparatus includes a portable housing, a testing unit, and an indication unit. The portable housing includes a hand-held casing and a probe casing extended from a front end of the hand-held casing. The testing unit includes a conductive probe having a testing end portion extended out of a tip end of the probe casing for contacting a testing object to determine a conductivity of the testing object. The indication unit includes a LED light unit received in the hand-held casing for illuminating the testing end portion of the conductive probe during testing, wherein the LED light unit is positioned away from the tip end of the probe casing for preventing heat generated from the LED light unit being transmitted toward the conductive probe to affect an accurate measurement for the conductivity of the testing object.

CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

This is a Continuation application that claims the benefit of priorityunder 35U.S.C. §119 to a non-provisional application, application Ser.No. 14/564,041, filed Dec. 8, 2014, which is a Continuation-In-Partapplication that claims the benefit of priority under 35U.S.C. §119 to anon-provisional application, application Ser. No. 12/932,109, filed Feb.16, 2011.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains materialwhich is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has noobjection to any reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as itappears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent files orrecords, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a precious stone tester, and moreparticular to a multi-functional precious stone testing apparatus andmethod thereof, which comprises a LED light unit for providing anillumination at the conductive probe for determining thermal and/orelectrical conductivity when the conductive probe contacts with thetesting object without substantially transmitting heat from the LEDlight unit to the conductive probe.

2. Description of Related Arts

A gemstone tester is considered as one of the convenient tools forgemstone (such as diamond, moissanite and other precious stones)identification. A conventional gemstone tester comprises a testing probefor determining a thermal conductivity of the gemstone such as diamondas well as an electrical conductivity of moissanite in order to classifythe gemstone by its physical properties. However, the gemstone testerhas several drawbacks. The user must be proficient in the relevant skilland techniques to operate the gemstone tester and with a relativelypractical understanding of the theoretical principles of gemstonebecause the gemstone tester must be adjusted or regulated its parametersduring testing operation. The testing errors will be obtained due to theinsufficient sensitivity of the gemstone tester or the improperoperation of the gemstone tester. In addition, the gemstone tester canonly test a particular gemstone. Therefore, it is a hassle for the userto carry different gemstone tester in order to test various kinds ofgemstones. Furthermore, the gemstone tester can only identify whetherthe gemstone is real, however, the gemstone tester cannot measure thefluorescence of gemstones through the visible light. In other words, theuser must carry another tester in order to measure the fluorescence ofgemstones.

An improved gemstone tester further comprises an illumination unit forilluminating the testing probe when the testing probe contacts with thegemstone. The illumination unit comprises a light-up frame, wherein thelight-up frame forms a tip holding frame to retain the testing probe inposition. In other words, the testing probe is extended through andsupported at the light-up frame. Therefore, the light-up frame providesenough illumination at the tip of the testing probe in order toaccurately contact the tip of the testing probe at the gemstone.

However, the illumination unit not only generates light to the light-upframe but also generates heat toward the testing probe because theillumination unit is positioned close to the testing probe. Since thetesting probe is arranged for determining the conductivity of thegemstone, heat from the illumination unit will affect the accuracy ofconductivity of the gemstone.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The invention is advantageous in that it provides a multi-functionalprecious stone testing apparatus and method thereof, which comprises aLED light unit for providing an illumination at the conductive probewhen the conductive probe contacts with the testing object withoutsubstantially transmitting heat from the LED light unit to theconductive probe.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a multi-functionalprecious stone testing apparatus and method thereof, which canaccurately classify the testing object as one of Moissanite, diamond,metal, and other stone.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a multi-functionalprecious stone testing apparatus and method thereof, which comprises aUV light source for generating a UV light beam toward the testing objectto measure the fluorescence of the testing object. In particular, theconductive probe and the UV light source are operated independently.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a multi-functionalprecious stone testing apparatus and method thereof, wherein the lighttransmissible frame is coupled between the hand-held casing and theprobe casing to diffuse the light from the LEDs for illumination of thetesting end portion of the conductive probe.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a multi-functionalprecious stone testing apparatus and method thereof, wherein theoperation of the present invention is simple and easy by contacting thethumb and index finger of the user at the touch control and bycontacting the testing end portion of the conductive probe at thetesting object.

Another advantage of the invention is to provide a multi-functionalprecious stone testing apparatus and method thereof, wherein the LEDindentifying indicators are formed on the top wall of the portablehousing for easy reading.

Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparentfrom the description which follows, and may be realized by means of theinstrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appendedclaims.

According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects andto advantages are attained by a multi-functional precious stone testingapparatus, which comprises a portable housing, a testing unit, and anindication unit.

The portable housing comprises a hand-held casing for receiving a powersource therein, and a probe casing extended from a front end of thehand-held casing.

The testing unit comprises an evaluation circuit received in thehand-held casing and electrically linked with the power source, and aconductive probe operatively linked to the evaluation circuit, whereinthe conductive probe has a testing end portion extended out of a tip endof the probe casing for contacting a testing object to determine athermal and electrical conductivity of the testing object.

The indication unit comprises a LED light unit received in the hand-heldcasing and operatively linked to the evaluation circuit for generating alight indicating effect to identify the testing object in responsive tothe conductivity of the testing object and for illuminating the testingend portion of the conductive probe during testing, wherein the LEDlight unit is positioned away from the tip end of the probe casing forpreventing heat generated from the LED light unit being transmittedtoward the conductive probe to affect an accurate measurement for thethermal and/or electrical conductivity of the testing object.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the presentinvention comprises a method of classifying a testing object by amulti-functional precious stone testing apparatus which comprises ahand-held casing and a probe casing extended therefrom, wherein themethod comprises the following steps.

(1) Determine a thermal and/or electrical conductivity of the testingobject by contacting a testing end portion of a conductive probe of aconduction unit of the testing unit to the testing object, wherein thetesting end portion of the conductive probe is extended out of a tip endof the probe casing.

(2) Illuminate the testing end portion of the conductive probe by a LEDlight unit which is positioned away from the tip end of the probe casingfor preventing heat generated from the LED light unit being transmittedtoward the conductive probe to affect an accurate measurement for thethermal and/or electrical conductivity of the testing object.

(3) Activate one of a plurality of indicating lights in responsive tothe corresponding conductivity of the testing object to classify thetesting object as one of Moissanite, diamond, metal, and other stone.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from aconsideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the presentinvention will become apparent from the following detailed description,the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a multi-functional precious stonetesting apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the multi-functional precious stone testingapparatus according to the above preferred embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is a partially sectional view of the multi-functional preciousstone testing apparatus according to the above preferred embodiment ofthe present invention, illustrating the LEDs and the light transmissibleframe at the hand-held casing for illumination.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative mode of the light transmissible frameof the multi-functional precious stone testing apparatus according tothe above preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 illustrates a first alternative mode of the multi-functionalprecious stone testing apparatus according to the above preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 illustrates a second alternative mode of the multi-functionalprecious stone testing apparatus according to the above preferredembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of the multi-functional precious stone testingapparatus equipped and configured with a mobile device through awireless network according to the above preferred embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description is disclosed to enable any person skilled inthe art to make and use the present invention. Preferred embodiments areprovided in the following description only as examples and modificationswill be apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principlesdefined in the following description would be applied to otherembodiments, alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and applicationswithout departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a multi-functional preciousstone testing apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is illustrates, wherein the multi-functional preciousstone testing apparatus, which is adapted for identifying a testingobject as one of diamond, Moissanite, metal, and other stone, comprisesa portable housing 10, a testing unit 20, and an indication unit 30.

The portable housing 10 comprises a hand-held casing 11 for receiving apower source unit 13 therein, and a probe casing 12 extended from afront end of the hand-held casing 11. Accordingly, the hand-held casing11 preferably has a top wall, a bottom wall, and two sidewalls to definean interior cavity within the top wall, bottom wall, and sidewalls,wherein the power source unit 13 is received in the interior cavity ofthe hand-held casing 11.

The testing unit 20 comprises an evaluation circuit 21 received in theinterior cavity of the hand-held casing 11 and electrically linked withthe power source unit 13, and a conduction unit 22 operatively linked tothe evaluation circuit 21.

The evaluation circuit 21 is a microprocessor electrically coupled at acircuit board with a preloaded evaluation program, wherein theevaluation circuit 21 is arranged to receive a testing signal from theconduction unit 22.

Accordingly, the conduction unit 22 comprises a conduction circuit 221electrically linked to the evaluation circuit 21 and a conductive probe222 which is substantially supported by the probe casing 12 andoperatively linked to the conduction circuit 221 for determining thermaland/or electrical conductivity when the conductive probe 222 contactswith a testing object.

The conductive probe 222 has a testing end portion 223 extended out of atip end of the probe casing 12 for contacting the testing object todetermine a thermal and/or electrical conductivity of the testingobject. Generally, the conductive probe 222 determines a thermalconductivity of a gemstone such as diamond and an electricalconductivity of a moissanite. In other word, the testing signal is sentfrom the conductive probe 222 to the evaluation circuit 21 such thatevaluation circuit 21 will analysis the testing signal in responsive tothe conductivity of the testing object in order to classify the testingobject.

The testing unit 20 further comprises a UV light source 23 received inthe portable housing 10 for generating a UV light beam toward thetesting object to measure the fluorescence of the testing object,wherein the UV light source 23 has a light head 231 extended out of thetip end of the probe casing 12 at a position adjacent to the testing endportion 223 of the conductive probe 222.

According to the preferred embodiment, the UV light source 23 comprises,a UV light circuit 232 received in the hand held casing 11 toelectrically linked with the evaluation circuit 21 and a UV LED 233adapted for UV light generation, wherein the light head 231 is definedat a head portion of the UV LED 233 protruding out of the tip end of theprobe casing 12.

As shown in FIG. 1, the probe casing 12, having a conical shape, has atip end surface defining a first through slot 121 and a second throughslot 122 spacedly formed at the tip end surface, wherein the testing endportion 223 of the conductive probe 222 is extended out of the tip endof the probe casing 12 through the first through slot 121 while thelight head 231 of the UV light source 23 is extended out of the tip endof the probe casing 12 through the second through slot 122. Therefore,the testing end portion 223 of the conductive probe 222 is positionedadjacent to the light head 231 of the UV light source 23.

In addition, the protruding length of the testing end portion 223 of theconductive probe 222 is substantially longer than the protruding lengthof light head 231 of the UV light source 23, such that the testing endportion 223 of conductive probe 222 not only forms a contact point formeasuring the thermal and/or electrical conductivity of the testingobject but also forms a support point for retaining the light head 231of the UV light source 23 at a position spacedly apart from the testingobject when the testing end portion 223 of the conductive probe 222contacts with the testing object.

The evaluation circuit 21 comprises an activation selection circuit 211operatively linked to the conduction unit 22 and the UV light source 23to selectively operate the conductive probe 222 and the UV light source23 independently.

Accordingly, the testing unit 20 further comprises a power switch 24provided at the hand-held casing 11 to electrically link between thepower source unit 13 and the evaluation circuit 21 in order toselectively control the evaluation circuit 21 in an on-and-off manner.

The testing unit 20 further comprises a switch control 25 operativelylinked to the activation selection circuit 211 to selectively, controlthe conduction unit 22, wherein when the switch control 25 is actuated,the conduction unit 22 is activated through the activation selectioncircuit 211 to determine the thermal and/or electrical conductivity ofthe testing object when the conductive probe 222 contacts with thetesting object.

Accordingly, the switch control 25 comprises two touch controls 251provided at the sidewalls of the hand-held casing 11 respectively,wherein the touch controls 251 are activated by a touch of the user. Inother words, when the user (right-handed user) holds the hand-heldcasing 11, the thumb and the index finger of the user will contact atthe touch controls 251 respectively in order to activate the conductionunit 22 is activated through the activation selection circuit 211. Whenone of the touch controls 251 is untouched, the activation selectioncircuit 211 will automatically deactivate the conduction unit 22 to stopthe operation of the conduction unit 22.

The testing unit 20 further comprises a UV switch control 26 operativelylinked to the activation selection circuit 211 to selectively controlthe UV light source 23, wherein when the UV switch control 26 isactuated, the UV light source 23 is activated through the activationselection circuit 211 for UV light generation to measure thefluorescence of the testing object. The UV switch control 26 ispreferably provided at the top wall of the hand-held casing 11 such thatwhen the user actuate the UV switch control 26, preferably by depressionof the UV switch control 26, the UV light source 23 is activated for UVlight generation. It is worth mentioning that the conduction unit 22 andthe UV light source 23 are operated independently. In addition, theconduction unit 22 and the UV light source 23 can be operated at thesame time.

According to the preferred embodiment, the indication unit 30 comprisesa LED light unit 31 received in the hand-held casing 11 and operativelylinked to the evaluation circuit 21 for generating a light indicatingeffect to identify the testing object in responsive to the conductivityof the testing object and for illuminating the testing end portion ofthe conductive probe 222 during testing.

According to the preferred embodiment, the LED light unit 31 ispositioned away from the tip end of the probe casing 12 for preventingheat generated from the LED light unit 31 being transmitted toward theconductive probe 222 to affect an accurate measurement for theconductivity of the testing object.

The LED light unit 31 comprises a plurality of LEDs 311 coaxiallysupported within the hand-held casing 11 at a position close to thefront end thereof, wherein the LEDs 311 are activated for generatinglight effect when the evaluation circuit 21 is activated. In addition,the evaluation circuit 21 is activated when the conductive probe 222 isin good-contact with the testing object. Therefore, the LEDs 311 will beactivated as an indicator for ensuring the testing end portion 223 ofthe conductive probe 222 being in good-contact with the testing objectand as an illuminator for illuminating at the testing end portion 223 ofthe conductive probe 222 to be contacted with the testing object.However, since the LEDs 311 are positioned away from the testing endportion 223 of the conductive probe 222, the heat from the LEDs 311 willnot be transmitted to the conductive probe 222 in order to determine theconductivity of the testing object. It is worth mentioning that the LEDlight unit 31 is also positioned away from the light head 231 of the UVlight source 23 for preventing any interference of the UV light withrespect to the illumination light.

Preferably, the LEDs 311 will be activated only when the conduction unit22 is activated. In other words, the LEDs 311 will be automaticallyswitched off during the operation of the UV light source 23.

The indication unit 30 further comprises a light transmissible frame 32coupled between the hand-held casing 11 and the probe casing 12, whereinthe LEDs 311 of the LED light unit 31 are aligned with the lighttransmissible frame 32 such that when the evaluation circuit 21 isactivated, the LEDs 311 of the LED light unit 31 generate anillumination light to light up the light transmissible frame 32 todiffuse the light from the LEDs 311 for illumination of the testing endportion 223 of the conductive probe 222. In other words, when theconductive probe 222 is in good-contact with the testing object toactivate the evaluation circuit 21, the light transmissible frame 32 islightened up by the LEDs 311 in responsive to the contact between theconductive probe 222 and the testing object.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the light transmissible frame 32 is formed inring shape encircling around the probe casing 12, wherein the lighttransmissible frame 32 is detachably coupled between the hand-heldcasing 11 and the probe casing 12. When the LEDs 311 are activated forlight generation, the light transmissible frame 32 forms a 360.degree.illuminated ring to illuminate the testing end portion 223 of theconductive probe 222.

Preferably, the light transmissible frame 32 is made of transparentmaterial such as clear plastic or glass, or translucent material such asfrosted plastic or acrylic.

The light transmissible frame 32 has a rear rim extended from the frontend of the hand-held casing 11 and a front rim extended to the probecasing 12. In other words, the light transmissible frame 32 forms a neckportion of the portable housing 10 between the hand-held casing 11 andthe probe casing 12. Accordingly, the LEDs 311 are coaxially supportedat the hand-held casing 11 to align with the rear rim of the lighttransmissible frame 32, such that when the LEDs 311 are activated forlight generation, the light will be transmitted from the rear rim of thelight transmissible frame 32 to the front rim thereof so as to light upthe light transmissible frame 32.

In addition, the light transmissible frame 32 also forms as a heatisolation frame between the hand-held casing 11 and the probe casing 12for preventing the heat from the LEDs 311 being transmitted to theconductive probe 222.

The LED light unit 31 further comprises a plurality of LED indentifyingindicators 312 spacedly provided on the top wall of the hand-held casing11 for indicating the testing object to be classified as one of diamond,Moissanite, metal, and other stone. Accordingly, the LED indentifyingindicators 312 are operatively linked to the evaluation circuit 21 toshow the result of the testing evaluation. The LED indentifyingindicators 312 comprises a “diamond” indentifying indicator,“Moissanite” indentifying indicator, “metal” indentifying indicator, and“other stone” indentifying indicator, wherein the respective LEDindentifying indicator 312 is activated in responsive to theconductivity of the testing object through the evaluation circuit 21.

Preferably, the LED indentifying indicators 312 are arranged forgenerating different colors for easy identification. For example, the“diamond” indentifying indicator will generate first color foridentifying the testing object as diamond. The “Moissanite” indentifyingindicator will generate second color for identifying the testing objectas Moissanite. The “metal” indentifying indicator will generate thirdcolor for identifying the testing object as metal. The “other stone”indentifying indicator will generate fourth color for identifying thetesting object as other stone. In addition, the LEDs 311 willsimultaneously change the color to match with the color of thecorresponding indentifying indicator 312 when the test is completed.According to the preferred embodiment, different colors are used torepresent different test result, such as Blue color representingDiamond, Green color representing Moissanite, Amber (Orange) colorrepresenting Metal, and Red color representing Stone.

The LED light unit 31 further comprises a LED status indicator 313provided at the top wall of the hand-held casing 11 for indicating thestatus of the evaluation circuit 21. Accordingly, the LED statusindicator 313 is arranged for generating different colors in order toindicate the status of the evaluation circuit 21. For example, the LEDstatus indicator 313 will generate red color when the power switch 24 isactuated to start activating the evaluation circuit 21. The LED statusindicator 313 will generate amber color to indicate the evaluationcircuit 21 being ready for operation. The LED status indicator 313 willgenerate green color when both fingers are positioned well making a goodconductive circuit ready for testing. In operation, firstly, the userturns on the tester, the red wait light illuminates whilst the testerwarms up all four testing circuits. Then, the amber light illuminatesinforming the user to position his or her fingers (such as thumb andindex fingers) on to the testing plate positions. Finally, if the userhas positioned his or her fingers well and correctly, the green lightwill illuminates informing the user that he or she is now ready toperform the test. If at any point the amber light comes back on and thegreen light goes off, it informs the user that he or she does not have agood contact between his or her fingers and the testing plates.

According to the preferred embodiment, the power source unit 13comprises a battery compartment 131 in the hand-held casing 11 forreceiving a battery therein to electrically link with the evaluationcircuit 21, and a compartment cover 132 detachably coupled at a rear endof the hand-held casing 11 to enclose the battery compartment 131. Thebattery can be a replaceable battery replace ably received in thebattery compartment 131. Preferably the battery is a rechargeablebattery received in the battery compartment 131.

As shown in FIG. 1, the indication unit 30 may further comprise a lightindication frame 33 coupled between the rear end of the hand-held casing11 and the compartment cover 132, wherein the LEDs 311 of the LED lightunit 31 generate an illumination light to light up the light indicationframe 33 corresponding to the light transmissible frame 32. Therefore,the light transmissible frame 32 and the light indication frame 33 areformed at the front and rear ends of the hand-held casing 11. It isworth mentioning that due to the preference of the buyers, it is anoption to have just the light transmissible frame 32 or to have both thelight transmissible frame 32 as well as the light indication frame 33 asillustrated in the FIG. 1 according to the preferred embodiment.

Accordingly, the multi-functional precious stone testing apparatusfurther comprises a charging arrangement 40 for electrically chargingthe power source unit 13, wherein the charging arrangement 40 comprisesa charging dock 41 for electrically linking to a power supply, a firstcontact terminal 42 provided at the portable housing 10 to electricallylink with the power source unit 13, and a second contact terminal 43provided at the charging dock 41 and arranged in such a manner that whenthe portable housing 10 docks at the charging dock 41, the first contactterminal 42 contacts with the second contact terminal 43 to electricallycharge the power source unit 13.

In order operate the multi-functional precious stone testing apparatus,the user is able to switch on the power switch 24 in order to warm upthe evaluation circuit 21, wherein the LED status indicator 313 willgenerate red color during the warm up time. Once the LED statusindicator 313 generates amber color, the evaluation circuit 21 is readyfor operation. The user is able to hold the hand-held casing 11 and tocontact the touch controls 251 by the thumb and the index fingerrespectively to activate the conduction unit 22. Once the testing endportion 223 of the conductive probe 222 contacts with the testingobject, the LED status indicator 313 will generate green color toindicate the proper contacts of the touch controls 251 and the goodcontact between the testing end portion 223 of the conductive probe 222and the testing object. Then, the evaluation circuit 21 will classifythe testing object in responsive to the conductivity thereof.Correspondingly, one of the LED indentifying indicators 312 will beactivated for light indication by the evaluation circuit 21.

The user is also able to measure the fluorescence of the testing objectvia the UV light source 23. The user is able to actuate the UV switchcontrol 26 in order to activate the UV light source 23 for UV lightgeneration. It is worth mentioning that the light head 231 of the UVlight source 23 is spaced apart from the testing object since thetesting end portion 223 of the conductive probe 222 contacts with thetesting object.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative mode of the light transmissible frame32′ wherein the light transmissible frame 32′ is formed in ring shapeintegrally formed at the front end of the hand-held casing 11 toencircle around the probe casing 12. The LEDs 311 of the LED light unit31 are aligned with the light transmissible frame 32′ such that when theevaluation circuit 21 is activated, the LEDs 311 of the LED light unit31 generate an illumination light to light up the light transmissibleframe 32′ to diffuse the light from the LEDs 311 for illumination of thetesting end portion 223 of the conductive probe 222.

FIG. 5 illustrates another alternative mode of the preferred embodimentof the present invention, wherein a magnifying lens 40 can be mounted tothe testing apparatus of the present invention, in foldable or slidablemanner, at a predetermined position adapted for the user to view theconductive probe 222 to magnify the conductive probe 222 and the objectbeing tested. The magnifying lens 40 may further comprise at least a LED41 for illuminating the area around the magnifying lens 40 duringmagnifying the testing operation.

FIG. 6 illustrates another alternative mode of the preferred embodimentof the present invention, wherein the magnifying lens 40′ is movablycoupled at the hand-held casing 11 at a position close to the front endthereof. The magnifying lens 40′ is adapted to slidably move between afolded position and an unfolded position, wherein at the foldedposition, the magnifying lens 40′ is rearwardly slid on the outersurrounding surface of the hand-held casing 11, preferably at the topwall thereof, and at the unfolded position, the magnifying lens 40′ isfrontwardly slid toward the conductive probe 22 to magnify theconductive probe 222 and the object being tested. A lens frame 42′ withone or more LED light illuminators 41′ can be slidably mounted at thetop wall of the hand-held casing 11 to hold the magnifying lens 40′ inposition. The LED light illuminator 41′ of the lens frame 42′ iselectrically linked to the power source unit 13 via a positioningcontact switch that when the magnifying lens 40′ is moved at the foldedposition, the LED light illuminator 41′ of the lens frame 42′ iselectrically disconnected to the power source unit 13 and when themagnifying lens 40′ is moved at the unfolded position, the LED lightilluminator 41′ of the lens frame 42′ is electrically connected to thepower source unit 13.

It is worth mentioning that, referring to FIG. 7, the multi-functionalprecious stone testing apparatus according the preferred embodiment asshown in FIGS. 1-6 of the present invention may further include acommunication module linked with, but not limited to, the evaluationcircuit 21, UV light circuit 232, UV switch control 26, LED indentifyingindicator 312, LED status indicator 313, power source unit 13, thermalconductive probe 21, thermal switch control 25, and/or thermalconduction circuit 221, to be equipped and configured with a mobiledevice 50, such as mobile phone, tablet, notebook, and etc., of the userwhich has been downloaded with a corresponding APP through a wirelessnetwork, such as Internet, Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and etc., so as toillustrate the test results, indicating the testing object to beclassified as one of diamond, Moissanite, metal and other stone, as wellas acting as the indication unit 30, if required, so that the user maysimply access the test result from his or her paired mobile deviceplaced at where it is convenient for the user to view. Accordingly, itwould be an alternative mode of the multi-functional precious stonetesting apparatus of the present invention that by equipping andconfiguring with the APP of the mobile device of the user, the mobiledevice can substitute the indication unit 30 of the present invention.In other words, the mobile device 50 paired with the multi-functionalprecious stone testing apparatus can be functioned as the indicationdevice 30 which is wirelessly linked and configured with the evaluationcircuit 21 through the wireless network for generating an indicatingeffect to identify the testing object in responsive to the conductivityof the testing object and for illuminating the testing end portion ofthe conductive probe 222 during testing, wherein the indication unit 30is configured that when the conductive probe 222 is in contact with thetesting object to activate the evaluation circuit 21, the indicationunit 30 generates a testing signal in responsive to the contact betweenthe conductive probe and the testing object to identify the testingobject as diamond by the thermal conductivity and as moissanite by theelectrical conductivity.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of thepresent invention as shown in the drawings and described above isexemplary only and not intended to be limiting.

It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have beenfully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown anddescribed for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structuralprinciples of the present invention and is subject to change withoutdeparture from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes allmodifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the followingclaims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A multi-functional precious stone testingapparatus, comprising: a power source unit; a portable housing whichcomprises a hand-held casing receiving said power source unit therein,and a probe casing coaxially extended from a front end of said hand-heldcasing; a testing unit comprising: an evaluation circuit received insaid hand-held casing and electrically linked with said power sourceunit; a conduction unit, which comprises a conduction circuitoperatively linked to said evaluation circuit and a conductive probesupported in said probe casing and operatively linked to said conductioncircuit for contacting a testing object for determining a thermalconductivity or an electrical conductivity of the testing object andsending a testing signal to said evaluation circuit to analysis saidtesting signal in responsive to a conductivity of the testing object inorder to identify the testing object as diamond by said thermalconductivity and as moissanite by said electrical conductivity; and aswitch control configured to selectively control said conduction unit;and an indication unit operatively linked to said evaluation circuit forgenerating a light indicating effect to identify the testing object inresponsive to said conductivity of the testing object and forilluminating said testing end portion of said conductive probe duringtesting, wherein said indication unit comprises a light transmissibleframe provided between said hand-held casing and said probe casing andarranged that when said evaluation circuit is activated, an illuminationlight is generated to light up said light transmissible frame forillumination of said testing end portion of said conductive probe insuch a manner that when said conductive probe is in contact with thetesting object to activate said evaluation circuit, said lighttransmissible frame is lightened up in responsive to the contact betweensaid conductive probe and the testing object.
 2. The multi-functionalprecious stone testing apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein saidlight transmissible frame is formed in ring shape encircling around saidprobe casing such that said light transmissible frame forms a neckportion of said portable housing between said hand-held casing and saidprobe casing.
 3. The multi-functional precious stone testing apparatus,as recited in claim 2, wherein said light transmissible frame is formedin ring shape integrally formed at said front end of said hand-heldcasing to encircle around said probe casing.
 4. The multi-functionalprecious stone testing apparatus, as recited in claim 1, wherein saidindication unit comprises a LED light unit which comprises a pluralityof LEDs coaxially supported within said hand-held casing at a positionclose to said front end thereof to align with said light transmissibleframe, such that when said conductive probe is in good-contact with thetesting object to activate said evaluation circuit, said lighttransmissible frame is lightened up by said LEDs in responsive to saidcontact between said conductive probe and the testing object.
 5. Themulti-functional precious stone testing apparatus, as recited in claim1, wherein said testing unit further comprises a UV light sourcereceived in said portable housing for generating a UV light beam towardthe testing object, wherein said UV light source has a light headextended out of said tip end of said probe casing at a position adjacentto said testing end portion of said conductive probe, such that saidtesting end portion of conductive probe not only forms a contact pointfor measuring said conductivity of the testing object but also forms asupport point for retaining said light head of said UV light source at aposition spacedly apart from the testing object.
 6. The multi-functionalprecious stone testing apparatus, as recited in claim 5, wherein saidevaluation circuit comprises an activation selection circuit operativelylinked to said conductive probe and said UV light source to selectivelyoperate said conductive probe and said UV light source independently. 7.The multi-functional precious stone testing apparatus, as recited inclaim 1, wherein said indication unit comprises a plurality of LEDindentifying indicators spacedly provided on said hand-held casing forindicating the testing object to be classified as one of diamond,Moissanite, metal, and other stone.
 8. The multi-functional preciousstone testing apparatus, as recited in claim 1, further comprising acharging arrangement for electrically charging said power source unit,wherein said charging arrangement comprises a charging dock forelectrically linking to a power supply, a first contact terminalprovided at said portable housing to electrically link with said powersource unit, and a second contact terminal provided at said chargingdock and arranged in such a manner that when said portable housing docksat said charging dock, said first contact terminal contacts with saidsecond contact terminal to electrically charge said power source unit.9. The multi-functional precious stone testing apparatus, as recited inclaim 1, further comprising an illuminated magnifying lens adapted to bemounted thereto at a predetermined position for the user to view saidconductive probe to magnify said conductive probe and the testingobject.
 10. A method of classifying a testing object by amulti-functional precious stone testing apparatus which comprises ahand-held casing and a probe casing extended therefrom, comprising thesteps of: (a) determining a conductivity of the testing object bycontacting a testing end portion of a conductive probe of a conductionunit of said testing unit to the testing object, wherein said testingend portion of said conductive probe is extended out of a tip end ofsaid probe casing; (b) illuminating said testing end portion of saidconductive probe by an illumination light; and (c) activating one of aplurality of indicating lights of a LED light unit in responsive to saidcorresponding conductivity of the testing object to classify the testingobject as one of Moissanite, diamond, metal, and other stone, whereinsaid illumination light is positioned away from said tip end of saidprobe casing for preventing heat generated from said LED light unitbeing transmitted toward said conductive probe to affect an accuratemeasurement for said conductivity of the testing object, wherein thestep (a) further comprises the steps of: (a.1) contacting the testingobject with said conductive probe and activating two touch controls of aswitch control when an index finger and a thumb of an user who isholding said hand-held casing are contacting at two said touch controlsrespectively; (a.2) activating said conduction unit through a activationselection circuit; (a.3) determining a thermal conductivity orelectrical conductivity of said testing object while said conductiveprobe contacting with the testing object; and (a.4) sending a testingsignal to an evaluation circuit to analysis said testing signal inresponsive to said conductivity of the testing object to identify thetesting object as diamond by said thermal conductivity and a moissaniteby said electrical conductivity, wherein the step (b) further comprisesthe steps of: (b.1) generating an illumination light by lighting up aplurality of LEDs to light up a light transmissible frame for generatinga light indicating effect when said evaluation circuit is activated toilluminate a testing end portion of said conductive probe during testingand identifying the testing object in responsive to said conductivity ofthe testing object, so that when said conductive probe is in contactwith the testing object to activate said evaluation circuit, saidtransmissible frame is lightened up by said LEDs in responsive to thecontact between said conductive probe and the testing object as anindicator for ensuring said testing end portion of said conductive probebeing in contact with the testing object and as an illuminator forilluminating at said testing end portion of said conductive probe to becontacted with the testing object; and (b.2) preventing heat generatingfrom said LED light unit and said illuminating light from beingtransmitted toward said conductive probe by providing a distance betweensaid light transmissible frame and said tip end of said probe casing soas to ensure an accurate measurement for said thermal conductivity orsaid electrical conductivity of the testing object.
 11. The method, asrecited in claim 10, further comprising a step of deactivating saidconduction unit through said activation selection circuit when one ofsaid tough controls is untouched by the user.
 12. The method, as recitedin claim 10, wherein the step (b) further comprises the steps of: (b.3)coaxially supporting a plurality of LEDs of said LED light unit withinsaid hand-held casing at a position close to said front end thereof;(b.4) coupling a light transmissible frame between said hand-held casingand said probe casing at a position that said LEDs are aligned with saidlight transmissible frame; and (b.5) generating an illumination light bysaid LED light unit to light up said light transmissible frame forillumination of said testing end portion of said conductive probe whensaid testing end portion of said conductive probe contacts with thetesting object.